By Junex Doronio

MANILA — After a 10-day visit to the Philippines, United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur Irene Khan on Friday recommended the abolition of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) to “address critical drivers of red tagging” and allow for more inclusive peacemaking platforms.

In a press conference, Khan who serves as the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, noted that the NTF-ELCAC was no longer applicable in the current context due to the PBBM administration’s announcement that it was reopening talks with communist guerrillas, which were stalled under the previous Duterte regime.

Vice President Sara Duterte, however, openly opposed President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s plan to hold peace talks with the local Maoist insurgents who have been waging their “protracted armed struggle” against the government for more than 52 years now.

Khan said she also asked the PBBM administration to issue an executive order that stipulates a policy against red-tagging.

The NTF-ELCAC reportedly “red-tags” plain activists suspected of having links with the Communist Party of the Philippines and the New People’s Army (CPP-NPA).

Khan also recommended that the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) define red-tagging and terror-tagging and propose legislation against it.

Before Khan’s visit, UN Special Rapporteur Ian Fry also recommended the abolition of NTF-ELCAC.

(el Amigo/MNM)

MANILA — The upcoming visit of United Nations Special Rapporteur (UNSR) on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, to the Philippines signifies the country’s unwavering commitment to open and sincere cooperation with international partners, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), as announced on Saturday.

Khan is scheduled to arrive in the country on January 23 and will conclude her visit on February 2.

In a statement, the DFA emphasized that this visit underscores the Philippines’ dedication to open, sustained, and sincere collaboration with the United Nations and other bilateral and regional partners. It serves as a testament to the country’s promotion of a human rights-based development agenda, good governance, and its active role in strengthening global norms that uphold human rights and dignity.

Notably, Khan is the third Special Rapporteur to visit the Philippines within 14 months. The previous visits were by SR for the Sale and Exploitation of Children, Fatimah Singhateh, in November 2022, and SR for Climate Change and Human Rights, Dr. Ian Fry, in November 2023. In February 2023, SR for Extrajudicial, Summary, or Arbitrary Executions, Morris Tidball-Binz, also had an academic visit to the Philippines.

The engagement with UN Special Rapporteurs includes meetings with Undersecretary Severo Catura of the Presidential Human Rights Committee Secretariat. The most recent meeting occurred in July 2023 on the sidelines of the 53rd session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

The DFA affirmed that the Philippines engages in good faith with international human rights mechanisms and supports funding for cooperation to enhance human rights capacities in developing countries.

The statement highlighted the Philippines’ pride in its human rights agenda, developed over decades and across various administrations, which has established crucial benchmarks for the protection and promotion of the rights of marginalized communities, including migrant workers, women, children, indigenous peoples, refugees, stateless persons, individuals with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups.

The DFA anticipates that Khan’s visit will provide her with the opportunity to witness the government’s transparent and progressive agenda in promoting and protecting freedom of speech and expression.

(el Amigo/MNM)